Layperson's Guide to Family Law Arbitration
Mar 15, 2022

This is a paper I wrote last year that I recently ran into again going through my website. This paper is a guide aimed at people going through arbitration processes without a lawyer. It's written in plain language and talks about how arbitrators make decisions, evidence, case law and statute law, preparing for hearings and so forth.

Feel free to use all, some or none of the paper as you'd like. Permission isn't required to reproduce or distribute.

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Financial Disclosure Homework Package
Feb 5, 2019

Designed to be provided to clients help them provide proper financial disclosure, easily address common difficulties, and minimize inadvertently missing crucial information.

Want your assistant to learn how to complete this? Have them attend LESA's Effective Legal Support: Matrimonial Property Seminar in Edmonton on March 5, 2019, and in Calgary on March 12, 2019. Out of respect for LESA, I don't publish my slides or presentations on FamilyCounsel.ca, or otherwise distribute them.

Office Document Download (171 downloads)

They say that breaking up is hard to do: Tips for making it easier
Jan 23, 2019

Client handout written by myself and Marla Miller, QC. Meant to help address many of the common problems spouses run into when they initially separate (e.g. who lives in the house, how is furniture divided, when to change insurance designations)

The parenting article that it refers to can be found here.

This document was prepared for LESA's "Advising Small & Family Businesses" Seminar in Edmonton on Feb. 6, 2019 and in Calgary Feb. 13, 2019. I don't post my presentation slides on this website though, for those ... [Read More]

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REVISED Required Financial Documentation (with additional business-related items)
Jan 14, 2019

The revised version provides additional notes, cleans up some language, and focuses on the business disclosure which is most likely to be crucial, based on recent decision pertaining to business disclosure.

Checklist of financial disclosure to be handed to clients. I've added a few useful business-related documents, but this checklist can be provided to all clients.

I quickly go through it with clients to see what applies, check off what does, and make a photocopy for our office. That way my assistant can see what still needs to be provided.

Revised version presented at ... [Read More]

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Topics that might be addressed in a Parenting Plan (from Dr. Carter)
Oct 23, 2018

Psychologists and Parenting Coordinators can help separated parents to formulate a Parenting Plan. This document lists some of the topics that might be covered in a Parenting Plan. This document can be provided to clients who are curious about what a Parenting Plan entails.

Posted with permission from Dr. Stephen Carter of Glenora Registered Psychologists in Edmonton.

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Dr. Carter's Communication Guidelines
Oct 23, 2018

Handout for separated parents experiencing communication difficulties. Ideally each side should agree to abide by these terms, so they can also be forwarded to opposing counsel.

Posted with permission from Dr. Stephen Carter of Glenora Registered Psychologists in Edmonton.

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The typical path of the Albertan Separation/Divorce Legal Process
Jul 31, 2018

A handout which can assist spouses to understand the court process, as well as the alternatives to court, and potential court process that they can avoid by settling outside of court. Let me know if I missed anything significant.

I provide a number of handouts to clients at the first meeting, this is one of them.

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Client handout: required financial documentation (with additional business-related items).
Jan 15, 2018

Checklist of financial disclosure to be handed to clients. I've added a few useful business-related documents, but this checklist can be given to all clients.

I quickly go through it with clients to see what applies, check off what does, and make a photocopy for our office. That way my assistant can see what still needs to be provided.

Will be presented along with other materials at LESA's Business Issues in Family Law Matters seminar which I am co-chairing and speaking at in Calgary ... [Read More]

Office Document Download (58 downloads)

Client Handout: Maintaining Proper Business Records And Other Business Practices
Jan 15, 2018

This can be handed out to clients and bookkeepers to help them to keep their business's affairs in order in light of the disclosure requirements set out in the Cunningham and Sweezey decisions.

The title is cheesy, but I hope that it will make clients more likely to actually read it.

Will be presented along with other materials at LESA's Business Issues in Family Law Matters seminar which I am co-chairing and speaking at in Calgary on January 17, 2018, and ... [Read More]

PDF Download (56 downloads)

Client's Guide to Four-way Meetings
Apr 20, 2017

I hand this to my clients before four-way meetings. It's short enough that most seem to read it. It helps to get them into the right state of mind, know what to expect, lessen the probability of derailing the meeting, and get the most out of the meeting.

I still discuss the meeting with them in advance though, to confirm the agenda, discuss new developments, and confirm their position (to an extent, sometimes it's better if they don't have a firm position).

Office Document Download (71 downloads)